ABSTRACT Cannabis sativa marijuana is the illicit drug most commonly used during pregnancy The selfreported prevalence of marijuana use during pregnancy ranges from 2 to 5 in most studies A growing number of states are legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes and its use by preg...

ABSTRACT Methamphetamine abuse has continued to increase in the United States since the late 1980s with its use spreading from the West Coast to areas across the country Methamphetamine use in pregnancy endangers the health of the woman and increases the risk of low birth weight and small for gest...

ABSTRACT Accurate dating of pregnancy is important to improve outcomes and is a research and public health imperative As soon as data from the last menstrual period the first accurate ultrasound examination or both are obtained the gestational age and the estimated due date should be determined di...

ABSTRACT Genetic technology has advanced dramatically in the past few decades and its applications and use in caring for and counseling pregnant women has been transformational in the realm of prenatal diagnosis Two of the newer genetic technologies in the prenatal setting are chromosomal microarr...

ABSTRACT Moderate caffeine consumption less than 200 mg per day does not appear to be a major contributing factor in miscarriage or preterm birth The relationship of caffeine to growth restriction remains undetermined A final conclusion cannot be made at this time as to whether there is a correlat...

ABSTRACT Opioid use in pregnancy is not uncommon and the use of illicit opioids during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes The current standard of care for pregnant women with opioid dependence is referral for opioidassisted therapy with methadone but emerging eviden...

ABSTRACT Oral health is an important component of general health and should be maintained during pregnancy and through a womans lifespan Maintaining good oral health may have a positive effect on cardiovascular disease diabetes and other disorders In 20072009 35 of US women reported that they did ...

ABSTRACT Certain autosomal recessive disease conditions are more prevalent in individuals of Eastern European Jewish Ashkenazi descent Previously the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommended that individuals of Eastern European Jewish ancestry be offered carrier screening fo...

ABSTRACT Given the enormous advances in the prevention of perinatal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus HIV it is clear that early identification and treatment of all pregnant women with HIV is the best way to prevent neonatal infection and also improve womens health Furthermore new evide...

ABSTRACT In 2010 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised its guidelines for the prevention of perinatal group B streptococcal disease Although universal screening at 3537 weeks of gestation and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis continue to be the basis of the prevention strategy th...

ABSTRACT One of the most challenging scenarios in obstetric care occurs when a pregnant patient refuses recommended medical treatment that aims to support her wellbeing her fetuss wellbeing or both In such circumstances the obstetriciangynecologists ethical obligation to safeguard the pregnant wom...

ABSTRACT Increasing numbers of women and adolescent females are incarcerated each year in the United States and they represent an increasing proportion of inmates in the US correctional system Incarcerated women and adolescent females often come from disadvantaged environments and have high rates ...

ABSTRACT Perinatal depression which includes major and minor depressive episodes that occur during pregnancy or in the first 12 months after delivery is one of the most common medical complications during pregnancy and the postpartum period affecting one in seven women It is important to identify ...

ABSTRACT TaySachs disease TSD is a severe progressive neurologic disease that causes death in early childhood Carrier screening should be offered before pregnancy to individuals and couples at high risk including those of Ashkenazi Jewish FrenchCanadian or Cajun descent and those with a family his...

ABSTRACT Smoking is the one of the most important modifiable causes of poor pregnancy outcomes in the United States and is associated with maternal fetal and infant morbidity and mortality The physical and psychologic addiction to cigarettes is powerful however the compassionate intervention of th...

ABSTRACT Spinal muscular atrophy SMA is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease that results from degeneration of spinal cord motor neurons leading to atrophy of skeletal muscle and overall weakness In current practice patients with a family history of SMA are being offered carrier screen...

Abstract Drug enforcement policies that deter women from seeking prenatal care are contrary to the welfare of the mother and fetus Incarceration and the threat of incarceration have proved to be ineffective in reducing the incidence of alcohol or drug abuse Obstetriciangynecologists should be awar...

ABSTRACT Health care providers occasionally may find that providing indicated even standard care would present for them a personal moral problema conflict of conscienceparticularly in the field of reproductive medicine Although respect for conscience is important conscientious refusals should be l...

ABSTRACT In 2001 the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Medical Genetics introduced guidelines for prenatal and preconception carrier screening for cystic fibrosis The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Genetics has updated...